General Dynamics Provides Communications Link for Lunar Mapping Mission

FAIRFAX, Va. — General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is providing the communications link for NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission launched on June 18, 2009. The mission will use General Dynamics-made transceivers to communicate with ground control as it maps and studies the lunar environment. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

LRO will fly to the moon atop an Atlas V rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and go into orbit, turning its suite of instruments towards the moon for thorough studies. The spacecraft will also look for potential landing sites for astronauts.

“The LRO mission continues General Dynamics’ decades-long history of providing communications links to space for many of NASA’s most important missions,” said Lou Von Thaer, president of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. “Our transceivers will help ensure the success of the mission and relay the critical spacecraft data that will help map the moon and identify available resources.”

The LRO mission will use General Dynamics’ Advanced Multi-Mode Transceivers that have been modified specifically for this mission. The transceivers will send health and status updates and receive command instructions from NASA. LRO will communicate at S-Band frequencies through the NASA Ground Network and Deep Space Network.

General Dynamics has provided the critical communications link between Earth and space since the mid-1950s. In all, General Dynamics has produced over 400 space transponders including over 150 Deep Space, Near Earth and Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) transponders and transceivers for NASA missions. Examples include the Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, which carries two Deep Space Transponders that are still functioning, and the two first generation TDRSS user transponders flying on the Hubble Space Telescope that continue to operate trouble free after more than 19 years of service in space.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, operates and maintains mission systems for defense, space, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, homeland security and homeland defense customers. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., the company specializes in ground systems; imagery processing; mission payloads; space vehicles; maritime subsurface, surface and airborne mission systems; and tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination programs for national intelligence. More information is available online at www.gd-ais.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,900 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com.

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